U.S. Chamber of Commerce starts shale-energy promotion

7/22/2012
BY DAN GEARINO
COLUMBUS DISPATCH

COLUMBUS -- A big player has arrived in Ohio to promote the benefits of shale energy.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said last week that it is launching a media campaign in Ohio to show how oil and gas drilling can transform the economy and to act as a counterpoint to environmental advocates who have raised concerns about the process.

"Our campaign is focused on advocacy and education," said Christopher Guith, vice president for policy at the chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy. He declined to give specifics about how much money the national business organization is spending, only that it would be a "multimillion-dollar" effort. The chamber plans to advertise on television, radio, and print, and hold public events across the state.

Mr. Guith said the campaign will show how shale energy can help Ohio manufacturing and other industries.

Supporters of oil and gas drilling hope to rebut concerns about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.